Printing and folding machine



(-No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1. W. SCOTT. PRINTING AND FOLDING MAUHINE.

Patented Nov. 2,1897.

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W. SCOTT. PRINTING AND' FOLDING MACHINE.

No.-592,88'7. Patented Nov. 2., 1897.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' W. SO0TT.,

PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

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UNITED ST TES,

PATENT FFICE'.

XVALTER SCOTT, OF PLAIN FIELD, NEW JERSEY.

PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,887, dated November 2, 1897. Application filed November 23, 1891. Serial Nox 412,714. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, WALTER SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to machines for printing on both sides 'of a web and for severing the web into sheets, which are then folded and delivered, and has for its object the improvement of the operation of such machines.

The invention consists of combinations of devices hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the concluding claims. The preferred form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation of the printing, collecting, and folding mechanism, the supporting-framework being omitted. Fig. 2 illustrates the devices for shifting a Web sidewise and for returning the same to another part of the impression-cylinder with the same side out. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe collecting and folding mechanisms on anenlarged scale, with some details not shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are details hereinafter more particularly described. The printing mechanism consists of an impression-cylinder of desirable length, (such length being a multiple of the width of the web to be printed,) a number of form-cylinders arranged for coaction with'the said impression-cylinder, and means for shiftin g the Web sidewise and returning it between said impression and form cylinders at another placev with the same side outermost. Thus a web may receive a number of colors from a series of forms coacting with the impressioncylinder, be shifted sidewise and returned with the same side out to a second impressionzone of the cylinder, and receive other colors from the coacting form-zones of the platecylinders. It may be further shifted and returned to receive other colors, if desired. The forms on the plate-cylinders may be of any kind usually employed in color-printing. The form-cylinders may be inked by any suitable apparatus usually employed for the purpose. Such inking apparatus is not shown, as it may be of usual construction,

with a fountain for each color or the fountains divided for colors. With this printing mechanism may be combined mechanism for printing on the other side of the web, and in the latter case devices for applying oil to the firstnamed impression-cylinder may be used to prevent set-off.

Referring to the drawings, there are shown a plate-cylinder 10 and coacting impressioncylinder 11 for printingone side of the web, the said web being led thereto in any suitable way from a roll, (not shown,) as over rollers 12 13. The web is shown leading downward between these cylinders around cylinder 1], up and over the impression-cylinder 14., receiving a difierent color from each of the forms under which it passesin this instance four colors, if there be forms on all 'of the four plate-cylinders 15, 16, 17, and 18.

After passing the last form-cylinder, as 18, the Web w is led around the oblique bar 19 to and around a second oblique'bar 20, thence around a roller or bar 21 and back to the impression-cylinder 14, but over another part thereof. The web'now passes between said impression-cylinder and a series of coacting forms on the form-cylinders and receives a number of other colors on the side printed in colors. This operation is illustrated in Fig.

2, where the web w enters and passes over the part of the impression-cylinder 14 marked 22 and passes behind the same down to the oblique bar 19, receiving a number of colors from the forms coacting with said part 22. That side of the web printed by the cylinders 10 11 is marked 1 and that side printed by the cylinders 15 16 17 18 is marked 2. After the web has passed the roller 21 it is returned to a second impression part, as 23, of the impression-cylinder 14:, with the said side 2 outermost,and receives other colors from the second set of forms. The web is then led tothe cutting mechanism.

To prevent set-off, I prefer to oil the cylinder 14, and have shown oil-rollers 24 25 in contact therewith at the lower part, said roll-' ers receiving oil from a fountain 26 by a fountain-roller 27, a movable duct-roller 28, and distributing-roller. 29. The said oiling devices areplaced between the sheet-shifting devices and the impression-cylinder.

For the purpose of aiding in the feed of the web as it is'led from one part of the impression-cylinder to another I may employ a roller, as 30, to coact with roller 21, driving them from any suitable part of the machine. I prefer to construct said roller so that it will only bear upon the margins of the web. This may be done by means of suitably-placed collars thereon, or it may be by cutting away the roller circumferentially, as shown in Fig. 2 at 31, the walls of the groove 31 being at a distance apart less than the width of the web, whereby the working part of the roller bears only on the margins, as shown.

The machine may be driven by any suitable means, the power being applied to the shaft of gear 118, which is in mesh with a gear on impression-cylinder 14, the cylinders 11, 15, 16, 17, and 13 being geared directly to cylinder 14 (gearing not shown) and cylinder 10 being geared to cylinderll. The distributing-cylinder. for the form-cylinders (not marked with references) are driven from their respective form-cylinders by gearing indicated by dotted circles.

After the desired number of colors have been impressed upon the web it is led to a suit-able cutting mechanism and severed into sheets. The cutting mechanism shown consists of a male cutting-cylinder 32, having a knife 33, and a female cutting-cylinder 34, having oppositely-placed grooves 36, for coaction with the said knife, the said female cylinder 34 being twice the size of cylinder Adjacent and following the groove 35 are the pins 37, and adjacent and following the groove 36 are pins 33. These pins receive and retain the end of the web after sheets have been severed therefrom. These pins pass the cylinder 32 in the usual way. Adjacent the cylinder 34 is the first take-off cylinder 39, having grippers for taking alternate sheets from the cylinder 34. Following cylinder 39 in the rotation of cylinder 34 is the second take-off cylinder 41, having grippers 42 for taking the other alternate sheets from cylinder 34. Grippers 40 take those sheets that are caught by pins 37, and grippers 42 take the sheets caught by pins 38. Cylinders 39 41 are half the size of cylinder 34. The grippers 40 are operated to take sheets during each second turn of cylinder 39 by any suitable mechanism. I prefer, however, to operate the grippers 40 at the time stated by means of a rotating cam, as 43, sleeved on the shaft 44 of cylinder 39 and rotating independently thereof. \Vhen the arm 45 of the shaft of grippers 40 is on that portion 46 of cam 43, the said grippers are open and close as they run down the incline 47 of said cam.

- They open again as they run up the incline 48, after which they may remain open or may close, as may be desired. I have shown the cam as being shaped to permit them to gradually close after leaving the point 48 and to open gradually as they approach the part 46 of the cam. The said cam 43 is rigidly connected to or is integral with a gear 49, the said gear being driven in any suitable way at half the speed of cylinder 39. I have shown it as being driven from the axis 50 of the cylinder 34 by means of the gear 51, fast on said axis 50 and of half the size of cylinder 34, and intermediate gears 52 53 on studs in the framework. The grippers 42 of cylinder 41 may be closed and opened by suitable means. I have shown a cam 54 for this purpose. \Vhen the arm 55 of the shaft of grippers 42 is on part 56 of the cam, the grippers are open. The grippers close as they pass the point 57, and remain closed until they reach the point 58, when they open and release the sheets.

For the purpose of allowing the grippers 40 to seize the ends of the web or the sheets without injury to the preceding sheet I prefer to use means for accelerating the speed of the following end of the sheet taken by cylinder 41. The means shown for this purpose consists of a bar 59, carried by cylinder 34 a short distance ahead of the groove 35- in the revolution of the cylinder, the said bar being capable of movement radially of said cylinder. The said bar 59 may be mounted to be capable of motion radially or secantwise of the cylinder in any suitable manner, as in a slot or slots, according as the cylinder is solid or is made up of disks spaced apart. The bar is shown with a roller 60 running in groove-cam G1, the said cam being shaped as at 62 between the rollers 39 41 to push the said bar outward,whereby the sheets taken by the cylinder 41 have the speed of their rear ends accelerated momentarily, creating a space between them and the following edge, into which space the grippers 40 enter to grasp said following edge. It is understood, of course, that there are or may be duplicates of cam 61 and roller 60 at the other end of cylinder 34.

The sheets taken by the cylinders 39 41 may be delivered in any desired way. I prefer to collect them two by two and then deliver them. Guides 63, placed adjacent the cylinder 39 guide the sheets between the cylinder and roller. Stripping-fingers 65, extending into grooves in the cylinder 39, strip the sheets therefrom, which sheets are carried out to the right in Fig. 3 by tapes G6. The said tapes 66 run around rollers (54, 67, 6S, and 69 and under the cylinder 41. The sheets taken by cylinder41 are stripped therefrom by the guides 70 and are carried by the tapes 66 between rollers 64 and cylinder 39, where they are brought in register with the sheets taken by said cylinder 39 and are carried out by the tapes therewith.

The operation of the cutting and collecting mechanism is as follows: In the position shown the grippers 42 of cylinder 41 have just taken the leading end of the web from the pins 38. During the further revolution of the parts the pusher 59 will be moved outward by the cam 62 as the knife 33 severs the and over the roller or pulleys (i4,

sheet from the web, accelerating the speed of the rear end thereof. As the grippers 4O approach the cylinder 34 to take sheets therefrom the point 47 thereof is about on the line joining the axes of cylinders 34 39 and the grippers are closed. The point 48 of the cam is opposite the guides 63, and the grippers are opened as they pass said point 48 and release the sheet. As the grippers 40 pass cylinder 34 the next time they remain closed, as that part of cam 43 which is opposite the parts 47 48 will then be adjacent said cylinder 34.

In that case where the sheets taken by cylinder 39 have different matter from the sheets taken by cylinder 41 it may be desired to paste them together as they are collected. I have shown a past-blade 71 borne on arms from the shaft 72 for the purpose of applying transverse lines of paste to the web as it passes from the printing-machine to the cutting-cylinders. A roller 73 may be placed adjacent the path of the paste-blade on the opposite side of the web to support the same where the paste-blade can touch it. The blade does not press against the roller, the latter being to oneside. The blade takes paste from the fountain 74 and is driven from the cylinder 18 by gears 75 76, thelatter being on the shaft 72. The rollerof the pastefountain may be driven in any desired way, as by the gear 77, meshing with a smaller gear on the shaft 72.

The sheets run out by tapes 66 maybe folded in any suitable way. In a construction heretofore in use and shown in Fig. 1 the foldingrollers 81 are of unequal sizes, the larger being on that side from which the sheets come, and the sheet-carriers, as 66 as they pass the cylinders being parallel with the plane of the axes thereof. This construction is used to prevent the second roller from interfering with the sheets as they are fed in, since the sheets and second roller are moving in opposite directions during such feed. In my present invention the folding-cylinders, as 78 79, are of equal sizes, and the sheet-carriers, as tapes 66, pass the cylinders on an incline to the axes thereof-that is, the path of the sheets adjacent the cylinders is a plane making an angle with the plane of the axes thereof, the said path being nearer that cylinder that moves in the same direction as the paper as it enters. The sheets are confined between tapes 66 and bars 82. There may be stops, as 83, on said bars 82, though these are not necessary.

My invention also embraces an improvement in the motion of vibrating creaser-blades whereby the creaser first comes in contact with the sheets at a point adjacent the cylinder nearest the source of sheet-supply and moves along with the sheets at the same time that it is carrying them in between the cylinders and creasing themthat is, the creaser has a compound motion as well-as the usual alternating motion, the path followed by its edge being a cnrved one. This compound motion may be given the creaser by any suitable means. I will first describe the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 and then mention some modifications of the same.

The creaser 84 is mounted for rocking in any suitable Way and is shown as being carried by a shaft 85, journaled in arms 86 of shaft 87, journaled in the framework. An arm, as 88 of shaft 85, is pivotally connected to an arm 89, pivoted, as at 90, to the framework. The arms 86 89 are pivoted on oppo site sides of said shaft and are preferably so set that they are about parallel when the creaser is in its upperposition, all as shown in 3. In the construction shown the arms 86 are on that side next the source from which sheets are fed. The parts are also shown in the uppermost position of the creaser. In the down position of the creaser ithas the position indicated by the broken lines 91. The path of the edge of the creaser is marked 92. Of course the creaser need not move so far below the tapes 66 as shown in the drawings. The arms 86 are moved at the desired intervals by any means suitable for the purpose. The means shown for this purpose consists of earns 93 on shaft or stud 94, journaled in the framework, rod or bar' 95 having a roller 96 engaging said cam and pivotally connected to shaft at one end and to rocking arm 97 at the other end. Said arm 97 is journaled, as at 98, to the framework. Said bar is shown as having an oblique longitudinal slot 99, through which the part 94 passes.

It has been assumed thus far that sheets are collected two by two and run to the folding mechanism. In such case the creaser need only to be moved with half the frequency as in the case where single sheets are run in, as hereinafter described. The cam 93 is driven accordingly. In the first case it is driven by gear 100 on shaft 94, said gear being driven bya gear 103 on cylinder 32. Said gear 100 is twice the size of its driver 103, which is the size of cylinder 32. In the second case (where single sheets are folded) the creaser must be moved twice as often as it is when gear 100 is used. For this the gears 101 102 may be used, the first being on shaft 94, the second on the shaft of the cylinder 32. The said gears 100 101 may be splined to shaft 94, may be side by side, and be capable of sliding on said shaft. The gears 102 103 on shaft of cylinder 32 may be fixed thereto and be separated by a space greater than the thickness of either of gears 100 101. This allows of the adjustment of the gears 100101 to obtain the desired speed. The relative positions of the gears might be reversed-that is, gears 100 101 might be made fast and gears 102 103 be the adjustable ones and'other changes be made, or the gears 100 101 102 103 may be fitted to their shafts in such manner that they may be made loose or fast thereon at will, as by set-screws or keys.

IIO

The sheets folded by rollers 7 S 79 and creaser 81 may be delivered in any desired way. I show a set of tapes 101, running on rollers or pulleys 105 106, cylinder 79, and another roller, (not shown,) guides 107 108 109, folding-rollers 110, and creaser 111 for further folding the same.

The folding-cylinders 78 7 9 may have the speed of the cuttin g-cylinders,even when folding single sheets following each other edge to edge, since the creaser 81 is raised just in time to touch the sheets at the center line of fold as they are carried forward by the tapes 66 and travels with the sheets at the same time that it carries them to the folding-cylinders, thereby making an exact fold. The sheets are not stopped at all and do not come back against the following sheet. These folding-rollers 7 8 70 may be run at a greater speed than that of the cutting-cylinders. In this case these cutting-cylinders may only perforate the web, not sever it, and the web be led around either cylinder 39 or 11, the gripper-operating mechanism therefor being disconnected, so that the grippers will not be open while under the web. The folding-rollers 78 79 would then act to break the sheets from the web.

I have shown a gear 112 connecting gear 100 with and driving the roller 79. From the described constructions it follows that when gears 100 103 are fast to their respective shaft and one or both of gears 101 102 are loose the rollers 78 79 have the speed of the cylinders 32 31 and that when gears 101 102 are fast and gear 103 loose the cylinders 73 79 move faster than the cylinders 32 31.

In lieu of the guides 107 108 I may use tapes, as 113, running on cylinder 30 and rollers 78 105 111115 116. Thepulleys 115 maybe borne by pivoted arms, as 117, to take up any slackness of the tapes 113.

The cylinders 31 are geared together, and the latter is geared to the cylinder 11 by a gear 118.

The cam 51 for operating the grippers 12 of cylinder 11 may be loose on the shaft of cylinder ll and be geared to gears 53, rotating once to two turns of cylinder -11. Its method of operating the grippers 12 is similar to that described above in connection with cam 43 for operating grippers 10.

IVhile I have shown the tapes'GG as being approximately horizontal and the rollers 78 70 as folding upward, it is obvious that these parts may occupy other positions and operate in other directions.

The roller 73 is placed to one side of the. line of tangency of the web 10 with the circucular path of the blade 71. Said line of tangency is indicated by the mark 119 in Fig. From this arrangement it results that the blade 71 does not come in contact with or press against roller 73, though the latter supports the web to receive paste from the blade.

The blade applies paste to the center of the alternate sheets taken by cylinder -11.

The cylinder 41 has a longitudinal groove at 120, opposite which the lines of paste on the sheets come, but not in contact with the cylinder. The cylinders 32 39 may have grooves 121 122 for the same purpose, or they may be set so that they will not come in contact with the web or sheets.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination of male and female cutting-cylinders, sheet-retainers on one of said cylinders,two take-01f cylinders provided with grippers and coacting with that cutting-cylinder having the retainers to alternately take sheets therefrom, and pusher mechanism on said last-mentioned cutting-cylinder for ac celerating the speed of the tails of the sheets, whereby the said grippers can act, substantially as described.

2. The combination of male and female cutting-cylinders, the female cylinder having sheet-retainers, two take-off cylinders contiguous said female cylinder and having grippers, one cylinder taking alternate sheets therefrom, the other taking the other alternate sheets therefrom, and a movable pusher for accelerating the speed of the rear ends of the sheets taken by the second take-off cylinder to open a space between them and the leading edges of the following sheets (or web) to permit the grippers of the first take-off cylinder to open, to take sheets, substantially as described.

3. The combination of male and female cutting-cylinders, the female cylinder having sheet-retainers, two take-off cylinders contiguous said female cylinder and having grippers, one cylinder taking alternate sheets therefrom, the other taking the other alternate sheets therefrom, a movable pusher for accelerating the speed of the rear ends of the sheets taken by the second take-off cylinder to open a space between them and the leading edges of the following sheets (or web) to permit the grippers of the first take-off cylinder to open to take sheets, and means collecting said sheets two by two, substantially as described.

1. The combination of male and female cutting-cylinders, the female cylinder having sheet-.retainers,two take-off cylinders contiguous to said female cylinder and having grippers, one cylinder taking alternate sheets therefrom, the other taking the other alternate sheets therefrom, a movable pusher on the female cylinder for accelerating the speed of the rear ends of the sheets taken by the second take-off cylinder to open a space between them and the leading edges of the following sheets (or web) to permit the grippers of the first take-off cylinder to open to take sheets, and a cam for operating said pusher, substantially as described.

5. The combination of male and female cutting-cylinders, the female cylinder having sheet'retainers, two take-off cylinders contiguous said female cylinder and having grippers, one cylinder taking alternate sheets therefrom, the other taking the other alternate sheets therefrom, a movable pusher for accelerating the speed of the rear ends of the sheets taken by the second take-off cylinder to open a space between them and the leading edges of the following sheets (or web) to permit the grippers of the first take-off cylinder to open to take sheets, a cam for operating said pusher, and means collecting the said sheets two by two, substantially as described.

6. The combination of two folding-rollers, means for feeding sheets in a direction at right angles to the axes thereof, a creaser, a rocking shaft carrying said creaser, rocking arms pivoted at one side of said shaft and in which said shaft is journaled, a rocking arm pivoted at the other side, and pivotally connected to an arm of said shaft, and mechanism for moving said shaft and arms,whereby the creaser has a vibrating motion, and a compound motion as it carries sheets toward the same, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. The combination of two folding-rollers, means for feeding sheets in a direction at right angles to the axes thereof, a creaser, a rocking shaft carrying said creaser, rocking arms pivoted at one side of said shaft and in which said shaft is journaled, a rocking arm pivoted at the other side, and pivotally connected to an arm of said shaft, a rod for moving said shaft and carrying-arms, and a cam for moving said rod, whereby the creaser has a vibrating motion, and a compound motion as it carries sheets toward the rollers, substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. The combination of two folding-rollers, means for feeding sheets in a direction at right angles to the axes thereof, a creaser, a rocking shaft carrying said creaser, rocking arms pivoted at one side of said shaft and in which said shaft is journaled, a rocking arm pivoted at the other side, and pivotally connected to an arm of said shaft, a rod for moving said shaft and carrying-arms, a pivoted arm to which said rod is connected atits other end, and a cam for moving said rod, whereby the creaser has a vibrating motion, and a compound motion as it carries sheets toward the rollers, substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. The combination of two rollers for guiding a Web on one side thereof, a paste-fountain, and a paste-blade for applying paste to the other side of the web on a line parallel to and but slightly removed from the line of tangency of the web with one of the rollers, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 20th day of November, A. D. 1891.

WALTER soo'rr.

Witnesses:

F. GooDwIN, R. W. BARKLEY. 

